Mar 16 - Apr 5, 2019 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler and our neighboring communities
Chandler mayor suggests regional texting ban BY JIM WALSH Staff Writer
The mayors of Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa are hoping that the State Legislature finally passes a bill to combat texting while driving, but are prepared to study a regional crackdown if lawmakers continue years of failure to set a consistent, statewide standard. Like other city officials throughout Arizona, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke and Mesa Mayor John Giles say they may reluctantly consider ordinances if the state fails to act and pursue a regional approach such as one already in force in the Tucson area. Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels on Monday said that while the town likely would not consider its own ban, she’d be open to coordinating with Mesa and Chandler to impose a ban on using handheld devices while driving. They were buoyed by passage of Phoenix Republican Sen. Kate Brophy McGee’s bill, which would only allow
Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said he'll push for a regional ban on texting while driving if the state Legislature punts on a bill. (File photo)
See
TEXTING on page 10
Flipping over the fest Rudy Kay, 11, was among the thousands who fl ocked to Chandler last weekend to enjoy the 31st Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival. For a look at some of the others who were there, see page 48. (Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer)
CUSD ‘Deep Equity’ raises some parents' concerns
Former TechShop reopens under ASU management
BY KAYLA RUTLEDGE Staff Writer
BY COLLEEN SPARKS Managing Editor
Chandler Unified School District’s ongoing pursuit of impartiality in the classroom with the hope of closing achievement and other gaps among students has left some parents concerned about what is being taught in school. According to CUSD’s website, the goal of the “Deep Equity initiative” is to shift practices throughout the school system in order to “see students as individuals – including their race, language, gender, sexual orientation, and their various abilities,” with the intent of providing challenging content for students and employing culturally responsive teaching. But the district’s creation of the Equity Advisory Board, a group that works to promote fairness in the classroom, has raised concerns for some parents. At a recent meeting of the board, Marko Trickovic said promoting deep equity and perhaps making changes to curriculum made him feel uneasy because he feared certain ideologies could be pushed onto his children without his consent. Trickovic said he believed CUSD’s deep equity program will be less about equal opportunity and more about favoring certain groups of students over others. “As parents our number one concern when we send our children to school is, 'Hey, if my son is going into his English class, he should be learning English' … If you’re forcing any kind of opinion and doing anything different in that classroom,
The Chandler makerspace run by TechShop until it went bankrupt has reopened after Arizona State University stepped in to help serve entrepreneurs, artists and others who had lost a place to create products and other work. The makerspace at 249 E. Chicago St. in the ASU Chandler Innovation Center closed in November 2017 and TechShop Inc. filed for bankruptcy in February of last year. Arizona State University “worked through the bankruptcy process to acquire the equipment and reopen the makerspace for the public, as well as for Arizona State University,” said Ji Mi Choi, ASU associate vice-president in charge of the university’s Knowledge Enterprise Development Leading Entrepreneurship + Innovation initiative. Previously, ASU did not have access to the equipment that TechShop had left in
Chandler Unifi ed has two groups working with Adama Sallu, who this school year began as the district's director of equity and inclusion. (File photo)
that’s when we have a major problem with it, and this is happening. It's rampant, it's happening everywhere,” Trickovic said. “What we don’t want is an environment to be created where you think you’re helping one group and it leaves the other group behind,” he added. Kate Tice, an Equity Advisory Board member and music teacher at San Marcos Elementary School, said the panel was created this year after student achievement data showed gaps that may require new teaching techniques to ensure See
EQUITY on page 13
the makerspace, Choi said. The equipment includes 3D printers, laser cutters, a vinyl cutter, Janome and Juki sewing machines, a woodshop containing SawStop table saw, a panel saw, a large table ShopBot, as well as a full metal shop with manual mills, manual lathes, a CNC mill, saws and a drill press. A full welding area with metal prep grinders, Iron Worker bender/shear, a metal shrinker/stretcher and other supplies, along with a full supply of hand tools and a pottery area with a kiln, casting machine and a potter’s wheel also make up the extensive supplies in the makerspace. But people who use the space still can’t get to the equipment. One of the directors at ASU’s Core Research Facilities Team had a heart attack recently, delaying any required training. Members cannot use metal drills or other heavy machinery until they
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Scouting organizations fight for girls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun Lakes clinic helps stop muscle loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . Page 24 Seton Catholic basketball coach honored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . Page 39 Chandler girl, 7, beats cancer, marches for cure . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . Page 44 Young thespians tackle 'Annie Jr.,' 'Little Women' . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 53 Get ready to chow down on BBQ downtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 68
See
TECHSHOP on page 8
More Community . . . . .01-23 Business . . . . . . . 24-34 Sports . . . . . . . . . .39-41 Opinion. . . . . . . . 42-43 Neighbors. . . . . . 44-52 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . 53-60 Faith. . . . . . . . . . . .61-63 Directory . . . . . . 64-65 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . .66 Where to Eat . . . 68-70